Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with reference to implementation of the Commonage Framework Plans, the way his Department intends to overcome absenteeism and dormancy in securing total agreement between commonage stakeholders; the way stocking requirements will be fulfilled on commonage areas where there is high absenteeism or dormancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50768/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.

My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.